Scoring device



R. T. SCULLY SCORING DEVICE March 7, 1933.

Filed Nov. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y.

March 7; 1933.

Filed Nov. 14, 1931 R. T. SCULLY 1,900,401

SCORING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR. 6? BY I A TTGRNE Y.

' Patented Mar. 7, 193-3 PATENT: orrics REES T. SCULLY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA sconnvo DEVICE Application filed. November 14, 1931. Serial No. 575,053.

1 This invention relates to a new and improved scoring device particularly designed for use in scoring card games, such, for example, as contract and auction bridge.

' The prime object of my invention is to.

provide a scoring device of the character specified, ofa compact and effic ent construction, including means for permitting convenient -scoring and ready observation or reading of'the score by the several players of the game.

'My invention contemplates the employment of a score pad of the usual or any suitabletype, mounted on suitable means and arranged in a manner to afford convenient scoring, and automatically operable means for moving and revolving the pad fromscorposition to the position for observat on by the players.

In the accompanying drawings, which-1L lustrate applications of my invention:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my score device shown in scoring position; Fig.2, a perspective view thereof 1n re- "versed or observation position; Fig. 3, an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device in the position of Fig. 2;

" Figs. 4: and

5, plan views of the underside "of the hinged supporting member, showing the rotating mechanism in both positions;

Fig. 6, a side elevational view of a modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 7 a bottom plan view thereof.

'Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a base member, preferably of rectangular con figuration. Hinged to one end thereof, as at 3, I provide a tiltable supporting member -4" of substantially the same size and shape "as the saidmember 2. The members 2 and 4 are provided with a spring-latch construction 5 at their free ends for maintaining said members in the closed'and scoring'position .ofFiglr H 4 L.

porting :member 4 is a rectangular rotatable or revoluble plate or member 6 constituting a carrier or holder for a score pad 7 of'the usual and well known form, said pad being removably secured on said carrier by means Pivotally mounted centrally 0f the sup-' of a spring clamp or. clip 8. The carrier 7 is mounted on and rotatable with a shaft 9 extending through the supporting member 4,] and is provided with a bearing portion'lO. I disposed'in contact with the upper surface of the member 4. V v

The inner end of said shaftv 7 carries a small gear 11' designed for cooperation with a gear segment 12, thelatter being pivotally mounted on the supporting'member has at 13. A rotation of the segment 12'will in turn rotate the carrier member 6 and its pad '7 by means of the gear 11 and the shaft 9. One end of thesegment 12 is connected to the supporting member 1 by means of a tensi'on spring 1 and the other end thereof is connected to the base member 2 by'a"fiexible member 15 passed through a guide 16 on said supporting member. The said spring; 7'

and flexible member are so disposed as to 'al ternately rotatethe segment 12 in the manner and 1 for the purpose hereinafter described.

" The hinged members 2 and 4 are adapted to be separated in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and'for this purpose I provide an expansible spring 17 preferably anchored at the hinged point 3, and having extended portions engaging the inner surfaces of said members. The flexible member 15 is an chored at 18 to the base member 2, thereby constituting a limiting stop for the upward movement of the supporting member 1, as is readily seen in Fig. 3. 5 7 Thus, it will be seen,.with the parts in the closed'or scoring position of Figs." 1 and. 5, i. e., with the members 2 and 3 closed and held by means of the latch 5, and with the pad .7 in position facing the scorer, that a release of the latch 5 will cause the member 4 to elevate about the hinge point 3 by means of the spring 17 until'stopped by means ofthe flexible member 15. The snubbing action'of guide 16 on-the flexible member 15 will'cause the gear segment to rotate from the position of Fig. '5 to that shown in Fig. 4', thereby i rotating the gear 11 and the score-pad car-o.

member 6, said member is provided with an abutment 19 for engaging a stop pin 20 on the supporting member 4. lVith the device in this position, the pad 7 has been reversed and elevated, as in Fig. 2, whereby the other players may readily ascertain the scoring marked thereon. 7

To again bring the pad 7 into scoring position, the scorer depresses the supporting member 4 with his hand until the latch 5 engages to hold said member and the base member 2 in closed position.

The spring 14, having been extended during the movement described above, as illus trated in Fig. i, will cause a reverse'rotation of the gear segment, due to the release of the tension on the flexible member 15. Hence, thelpaits willbe moved from-the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5 to rotate the member 29; 6Iin the direction of the arrow of Fig. 4

through 180' degrees, and bring the same with its pad 7 tothe scoring position of Fig. 1.

.Itis to be noted that, due to the flexible connecting member 15, the closing pressure v also may be applied directly on the pad 7 and plate 6, resulting in a-release of the tension on said flexible member. Upon the closing of members i and 2, and the engagement of the latch 5, release of the closing pressure on said pad and plate will permit the return rotation of the same by means of the tension in the spring 14. A similar stop pin 21 is provided on the supporting member 4,. for positivelylimiting the return rotation of the plate member 6.

Figs. 6 and17 illustrate a modified form of my device, wherein the pad 7 is supported on a rotatable member 6a having a permanentlyinclined surface 22. Said member is -rotatable with a shaft 9a 'on a base member 2a, said shaft and base being provided with a cooperating gear 11a and a'gear segment 120; respectively. A latch construction 5a is provided for the members 60; and 2a, and a tension spring Ma extends between one endof the gear segment 12a and thebase member 2a.

In operation, thezscoring device is placed.

in front of the scorer, with the pad 7 inscoring position. Upon releaseof the latchfia, the member 6a is rotated by means of the spring 14a, segment 12a, gear 11a and the shaft 9a,'through 180degrees, or-until the abutment 19a on-said member 6a engages the --stoppin20a on the base member, thereby positioning the score pad for the other players.

The devicemay be brought to the original or scoringposition by rotating the member 6w.

hingedly connected to the base,a revoluble" score-'pad carrier mountedon the plate-mem revolving the carrier upon a movement of the plate member.

2. A scoring device including a base member, a spring-pressed movable plate-member hingedly connected to the base, a revoluble score-pad carrier mounted on the plate member, automatically operable means for revolving the carrier upon a movement of the platemember in opposite directions, and cooperative lat-ch means on the base and plate-member.

3. A-scoring device including a base member, a spring pressed plate-member movably connected to the base, a revoluble score-pad carrier mounted on the plate'member, and means automatically operable through move-. ment of the plate member relatively tothe base member for revolving thecarrier.

4:. 'A scoring device including a base member, a spring pressed'movable plate-member hingedly connected to the base, a revoluble score-pad carrier mounted on thefplate. mem

score-pad carrier, a mounting means therefor capable of assuming an inclined position, and automatically operable spring-actuated means, for revolving the carrier through movement of the mounting means from the said position; r

7 A scoring device including a revoluble score-pad carrier, means mounting the samefor movement from a normal position to a positionat an angle thereto, and spring-acm ated means for revolving the-carrier'auto mat-ically operable through said movement, said means including a toothed segmentalmember and a cooperating gear.

'8. -A scoring device including a revoluble score-pad carrier, means mountingthe same for movement froma normal position to a position at an angle thereto, spring-actuated means for revolving the carrier automatically operable through said movement, and latch means to maintain the carrier in normal position. I

9. A scoringdevice comprising a supporting member-movable from a normal position to a position inclined with respect thereto, a score pad carrier on the supporting memher, and means to turn said carrier relatively to the supporting member automatically through movement of the latter fromthe in clined to the normal position.

10. A scoring device comprising members hinged together so that they may assume an open position and a closed position, a score pad holder on one of the members, and mechanism operable to turn the score pad holder relatively to the members as the members are closed and also as the members are opened.

11. A scoring device comprising a score pad carrier mounted for turning and also movable from a normal position to a position inclined with respect thereto, and means 013-- erable to turn said carrier automatically through the movement of the carrier from the inclined to the normal position. v

12. A scoring device having members adapted to swing to and from open and closed positions, a score pad carrier having means journalling it on one of said members, a gear on the latter member in driving relation with said means, means urging movement of said gear, and means operable through relative movement of said members in one direction to shift said gear and also to'activate said urging means.

13. A scoring device'having membersconnected for swinging to and from open and closed positions, a score pad carrier having means journalling it on one of said members,

a gear on the latter member in driving rela-' tion With said means, a spring urging movement of said gear, a guide element on the last mentioned member, and a flexible means connected to the other member, passing through the guide element and connected to said gear so as to shift said gear and activate said spring through opening movement of the members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REES T. SCULLY. 

